GOOD SIGN: Heather Whitestone won more than...

GOOD SIGN: Heather Whitestone won more than the Miss America Pageant on Saturday. As the first deaf woman to wear the crown, she proved “deaf people can succeed in the same way anyone else can,” says Evelyn J. Cederbaum, associate director of CSUN’s National Center on Deafness. . . . CSUN junior Erika Dickson placed second this year in the Miss Deaf America contest.

SCHOOL’S OUT: More than 60 children from a Lancaster grade school went to hospitals complaining of nausea from fumes, none seriously hurt. One explanation was that old standby--fireworks in the boy’s bathroom (B1). . . . But no firecracker debris was found and paramedics figure much of the problem was psychosomatic, children getting sick because their friends were. The principal’s talking expulsion, but isn’t sure who.

CARS: The ‘90s started off poorly for car dealers in the Valley--they were about as busy as Maytag repairmen. No longer. Business is booming at local dealerships (above), and it may not slow down for some time (Valley Business, Page 3). . . . “We can’t keep the cars on the ground,” says a Canoga Park Jeep dealer.

OTHER APPROACH: Home schooling gets a good grade from many parents tired of the traditional choices in education. Take the Lenox family in Van Nuys, who educate their daughter, Skylar, 7, with art classes from a museum, piano lessons from a tutor, and reading sessions at the library (E1). . . . “I want her to retain her love of learning,” said her mother, Marsha.